Foundation License Boosts Amateur Radio Numbers in Australia:

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) http://www.wia.org.au/ reports that the number of new radio amateurs "down under" has grown by upward of 500 licensees -- 3.4 percent -- in the 11-month period ending August 1. WIA credits the Foundation license with helping to reverse a trend of declining ham radio numbers. Following the UK model, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) instituted the Foundation license in mid-October of 2005, and nearly 900 applicants have so far taken advantage of the new entry-level ticket.

"There now seems little doubt that the WIA examination service will process more than 1000 successful candidates in the first full year of assessing Foundation license candidates," the WIA said. "It is now also apparent that an increasing number of people are upgrading from Foundation to Standard and Advanced, and feedback from assessors and several clubs offering training confirms this trend will continue to accelerate over the coming months."

As of August 1 there were 14,204 radio amateurs in Australia, not counting repeater or beacon licenses.

ACMA adopted a distinctive four-letter suffix starting with "F" for all VK Foundation licensees. Holders enjoy limited access to 80, 40, 15 and 10 meters as well as the entire 2 meter and 70 cm bands using voice modes or "hand-keyed" CW only (ie, no keyboard or computer-generated code) at 10 W or less. Gibraltar also offers a Foundation license for beginners.

Source:

The ARRL Letter Vol. 25, No. 38 September 22, 2006

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